1.
January 2014
Nisha Malik, Sukhvinder Malik, Preet Rekhi,
Rahul Atri, Mandeep Arora
Security in LTE Access
Network
1. Introduction
The Long Term Evolution (LTE) is the latest step in an advancing series
of mobile telecommunications systems. In this paper, authors show
interest on the security features and the cryptographic algorithms used to
ensure confidentiality and integrity of the transmitted data. A closer look
is taken upon EPS confidentiality and integrity algorithms. The authors
also defined AKA, AS and NAS security and key derivations during
normal Attach process and Handover also.
Contents
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MSIN and IMEI should be confidentially protected,
IMEI should be send only after NAS security is activated.
The UE shall provide its equipment identifier IMEI or IMEISV to
the network, if the network asks for it in an integrity-protected
request
USIM is used instead of Normal GSM SIM
When the UE has no IMSI, no valid GUTI, or no valid P-TMSI
during emergency attach, the IMEI is included before the NAS
security has been activated
Introduction

Security Requirements of
LTE system

3GPP Security Architecture

Confidentiality and Integrity
mechanisms in LTE

2. Security Requirements of LTE System

EPS Algorithms

Security Procedures in LTESAE Network

Key Hierarchy in 4 G and
Key Derivation

Key Derivation in During
Handover

Conclusion

References
.

2.
Security requirements on eNodeB:
 Security requirements on eNB are listed below and supported by the
figure:
 eNodeB setup and configuration related
Communication between the remote/local O&M systems and the eNB shall
be mutually authenticated. The eNB shall be able to ensure that
software/data change attempts are authorized. Sensitive parts of the boot-up
process shall be executed with the help of the secure environment.
Confidentiality and Integrity protection of software transfer towards the
eNB shall be ensured.
 Requirements for key management inside eNB
The EPS core network provides subscriber specific session keying material
for the eNBs, which also hold long term keys, used for authentication and
security association setup purposes. Protecting all these keys is important.
Keys stored inside eNBs shall never leave a secure environment.
 Requirements for handling User plane/Control plane data for the eNB
It is eNB's task to cipher and decipher user/control plane packets between
the Uu reference point and the S1/X2 reference points. User/control plane
data ciphering/deciphering shall take place inside the secure environment
where the related keys are stored. The transport of user data over S1-U/C
and X2-U/C shall be integrity, confidentially and replay-protected from
unauthorized parties.

3.
3. 3GPP Security Architecture
As per 3GPP, five security feature groups are defined. Each of these
feature groups meets certain threats and accomplishes certain security
objectives:
Network access security: The set of security features that provide
users with secure access to services, and which in particular protect
against attacks on the radio link. Primary radio link security features are
like:
 Encryption and Integrity Protection of RRC Signalling
 Encryption and Integrity Protection of NAS Signalling
 Encryption of Data Radio Bearer
 Mutual Authentication between UE and Access Network
User domain security: The set of security features that secure
access to mobile Device and SIM. This security domain considers
following security set:
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User domain security requires IMSI and IEMI should be
confidentially protected.
User - USIM authentication: Access to the USIM is restricted
until the USIM has authenticated the user with use of PIN. If user
does not know PIN, user is not allowed to use SIM.
USIM – Terminal authentication: Used only for SIM-Locked
Mobiles. When a mobile device is SIM-locked, the device stores
the IMSI of the USIM. If the inserted USIM has a different IMSI,
the ME goes into a Emergency call only mode.
.

4.
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Application domain security: The set of security features that enable
secure messaging between USIM and the Network. This USIM
application toolkit provides capability for Operator to create
applications which are resident on UE SIM
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Visibility and configurability of security: The set of features that
enables the user to inform himself whether a security feature is in
operation or not and whether the use and provision of services should
depend on the security feature.
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Indication of access network encryption
Indication of the level of security
Enabling/disabling user-USIM authentication
Accepting/rejecting incoming non-ciphered calls
Accepting/rejecting the use of certain ciphering algorithms
Accepting/rejecting incoming non-ciphered calls
Network domain security: The set of security features that enable
nodes to securely exchange signaling data, user data (between Access
Node and Signaling nodes and within Access Node), and protect
against attacks on the wire line network.
Network domain security mainly performs following:
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Key negotiation using Internet Key Exchange (IKE)
Use of Internet Security Association and Key Management
Protocol (ISAKMP) for setting up the security association
between the Security Gateways (SEG)
Tunnel-mode Encapsulation Security Protocol (ESP) to be used
for Encryption, data Integrity and Authentication.

5.
4. Confidentiality and Integrity mechanisms in LTE
eNodeB layer and security Function: In eNB Physical, MAC and RLC
Layers do not perform any security related operation. Only PDCP, RRC and
NAS layer are involved:
3
 PDCP layer is responsible for integrity protection of RRC and
Confidentiality of RRC and User Plane (UP).
 RRC has the role of AS (RRC and UP) key handling and security
activation in PDCP
 NAS performs key handling and integrity and confidentiality of NAS.
Confidentiality and Integrity mechanisms in LTE
 To ensure data security during its transmission over the air interface and
through the LTE-SAE system: ciphering of both user plane data and
control plane data in the RRC layer, and integrity protection which is used
for control plane data only. For the NAS network, both ciphering and
integrity are provided.
 Ciphering is used in order to protect the data streams from being received
by a third party, Ciphering may be provided to RRC-signaling to prevent
UE tracking based on cell level measurement reports, handover message
mapping, or cell level identity chaining.
User and signaling data Confidentiality
 To ensure the data confidentiality Cipher algorithm EEA (EPS Encryption
Algorithm) agreement: To ensure the confidentiality of user and signaling
data in LTE-SAE (Long Term Evolution - Service Architecture
Evolution), 3GPP has maintained the use of the UMTS algorithm UEA2
based on SNOW 3G algorithm and has named it EEA1.
 In addition, a new algorithm EEA2, based on AES algorithm used in the
CTR mode (Counter Mode), has been adopted.
Besides, the UE and the EPS can securely negotiate the algorithm to use in
their mutual communication.
 Cipher key agreement: the agreement is done between the UE and the
network during the Authentication and Key Agreement procedure;
 Encryption/Decryption of user and signaling data;

6.
Signaling data Integrity
Data integrity in the EPS network ensures the protection of the signaling data
integrity and allows the authentication of the signaling messages transmitted
between the user and the serving network. User data is not integrity
protected. Integrity protection, and replay protection, shall be provided to all
NAS and RRC-signaling messages.
The following security features are provided to ensure the signaling data
integrity on the LTE and SAE:
 Integrity algorithm (EIA) agreement: as for the data confidentiality,
there are actually two variants of the integrity algorithm for LTE:
EIA1 based on SNOW 3G algorithms (named UIA2 in UMTS
network). It was used since 2006 in the UMTS network and was
maintained in the LTE-SAE network and the second algorithm EIA2,
based on AES algorithm.
 Integrity key (IK) agreement;
 Data integrity feature: the receiving entity (ME or SN) must be able
to check that the signaling data wasn't modified during its transition
over the network access link and to check the expected origin of the
message (SN (Serving Network) or UE).
5. EPS Algorithms
There are nowadays two sets of security algorithms used in the Long Term
Evolution network. The first set is based on the stream cipher algorithm
SNOW 3G, which is inherited for UMTS, the 3rd generation of mobile
telecommunication. The second set is based on the well-known block cipher
algorithm AES. Each algorithm is identified by an identifier.
EEA Algorithm Identification
The EPS Encryption Algorithms (EEA) is algorithms work with internal
128-bit blocks under the control of a 128-bit input key except Null ciphering
algorithm. To each EEA algorithm is assigned a 4-bit identifier.
Currently, the following values have been defined for NAS, RRC and UP
ciphering:
 “00002”: EEA0 Null ciphering algorithm. The EEA0 algorithm is
implemented in the way that it has the same effect as if it generates a
key stream of all zeroes.
 “00012”: 128-EEA1. The EEA1 is a stream cipher based on another
stream cipher named SNOW 3G
 “00102”: 128-EEA2. The EEA2 is a stream cipher based on the
block cipher A.

7.
6. Security Procedures in LTE-SAE Network
User Identity Confidentiality
During network access, the serving Mobility Management Entity (MME) is
required to allocate a Globally Unique Temporary Identity (GUTI) to the
UE, which is used in the EPS to avoid frequent exchange of the UE's
permanent identity (IMSI) over the radio access link. The GUTI consists of
two components: a Globally Unique MME Identity (GUMMEI), which is the
identity of the MME that has allocated the GUTI, and the M-TMSI, which is
the identity of the UE within that MME. The GUMMEI in turn consists of
PLMN ID (MCC, MNC) and MME Identifier (MME Group Id and MME
Code).The MMEC provides a unique identity to an MME within the MME
pool, while the MMEGI is used to distinguish between different MME pools.
The SAE TMSI (S-TMSI) is a shortened form of the GUTI that is used to
identify the UE over the radio path and is included in the RRC connection
request and paging messages. The S-TMSI contains the MMEC and MTMSI components of the MMEI.
However the S-TMSI does not include the MMEGI—that is, the MME pool
component. Thus, because MME pool areas can overlap, care must be taken
to ensure that MMEs serving the overlapping areas are not allocated the
same MMECs. The International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) is sent
upon request from the network using NAS procedures.
Authentication and Key Agreement
EPS AKA is the authentication and key agreement procedure that is used
between UE and EPC Core Network. EPS AKA produces keying material
forming a basis for user plane (UP), RRC, and NAS ciphering keys as well as
RRC and NAS integrity protection keys.
Authentication Data Retrieval
Authentication information is retrieved from the HSS over the S6a interface
upon request by the MME. An authentication data request includes the IMSI,
the serving network identity (MNC and MCC), the network type (EUTRAN), and the number of requested Authentication Vectors (AV) that the
MME is prepared to receive.

8.
UE Authentication
Authentication of the UE is initiated by the serving MME through EPS NAS
procedures. An EMM authentication request is sent to the UE with
authentication parameters (RAND, AUTN) and the NAS Key Set Identifier
(eKSI) or KSIASME. The KSIASME is allocated by the MME and uniquely
identifies the KASME. It is stored in the UE and serving MME together with
the GUTI, if one is available, allowing the KASME to be cached and re-used
during subsequent connections without re-authentication. A new
authentication procedure must include a different KSIASME.
The UE responds to the MME with an authentication response, including the
user response (RES) upon successful processing of the authentication
challenge data. The MME then must validate the correctness of RES, and the
intermediate KASME is determined after successful completion of the
current EPS AKA, as agreed upon by the UE and MME.
UE Identification
The UE identification request is initiated by the serving MME using EPS
NAS procedures. An EPS Mobility Management (EMM) identity request
is sent to the UE requesting that the permanent identity—that is, the
IMSI—be sent to the MME. This request is normally made when a GUTI
is not available to provide a unique UE identification. The EMM identity
request can also be used to retrieve the International Mobile Equipment
(IMEI) as part of the Mobile Equipment (ME) identity check procedure,
wherein the returned IMEI is passed on to the Equipment Identity
Register (EIR) via the S13 interface for validation.
.

9.
EPS Security Context
An EPS security context is created as the result of the EPS AKA and is
uniquely identified by the evolved Key Set Identifier (eKSI) of Type
KSIASME, allocated by the MME as part of the EPS AKA procedure. An
EPS security context consists of AS and NAS components. The UE and
MME each maintain up to two EPS security contexts simultaneously. For
example, during a re-authentication procedure, both the current and new
EPS security context exist during the period of transition.
An EPS security context can be stored for future system accesses, termed
a "cached security context." A UE transitioning from the EMMDEREGISTERED to EMM-REGISTERED state without an EPS security
context typically requires the Extended Pedestrian A (EPA) AKA
procedure to be run; however, the process is optional if cached security
context is used. An EPS security context can be stored for future system
accesses, termed a "cached security context."
NAS Security
The NAS security context in the EPS can be either set or re-established.
The NAS security context is set using the NAS security mode control
procedure, which is initiated by the MME towards the UE. This procedure
can be used during the initial establishment of security context,
subsequent re-authentications, or context modification.
To initiate the procedure, an integrity-protected NAS security mode
command message is sent with the EIA and key belonging to the security
context to be activated while non-ciphered. The EEA, EIA and eKSI
selected for the new security context are sent in the same message. The
EEA and EIA selections are based on the UE’s security capabilities sent
in initial UE context message.
The system chooses the highest priority EEA and EIA supported by both
The MME and the UE. During MME relocation, the NAS EEA and EIA
may be updated, as source and target MMEs can have varying levels of
support for security algorithms.
The NAS security mode complete message is sent using ciphering and
integrity protection with that of the security context to be activated. After
the security procedures are exchanged, ciphering is applied on all NAS
messages except the EMM attach request, tracking area update request,
and security mode command until the NAS signaling connection is
released and the MME is in the ECM-IDLE state. In transiting from the
ECM-IDLE state to the ECM-CONNECTED state, the system always
sends the NAS initial messages without ciphering but with integrity
protection with the EPS cached security context, if one exists. If not, then
the system sends the EPS AKA, NAS and AS Security Mode Control
procedures to set the new EPS security context for the NAS and AS.

10.
When an EPS cached security context is available, the UE sends the eKSI
corresponding to the cached context, and the EPS AKA is optional. If the
cached security context is to be activated, a new KeNB (eNB Key) is
derived for this NAS Signalling connection at the MME and forwarded to
the eNB over the S1-AP interface.
AS security mode control procedures are used to inform the UE of the
eKSI, indicating the current KASME in use. Security keys for the AS are
derived accordingly at both the eNB and the UE. NAS security mode
control procedures are not required in this case. The NAS security context
loop is closed when the MME responds to the UE initiating message by
sending the corresponding NAS procedure. This response is ciphered and
integrity protected with that of the cached security context to be activated.
An exception applies in the case of a TAU procedure in which the active
flag is not set; that is, a signaling-only NAS connection is made that does
not require establishment of DRBs and that releases resources as soon as
the TAU procedure is completed.
A NAS message is ciphered and transferred in the NAS message portion
of a security protected NAS message. After ciphering, integrity protection
is performed on the NAS message and sequence number, after which the
Message Authentication Code (MAC) is computed and filled in. Integrity
validation is performed prior to deciphering of the embedded NAS
message.
AS Security
An EPS AS security context is initialized in the eNB by the MME when the
UE enters the ECM- CONNECTED state and during the preparation for an
intra-LTE handover. At this time the UE’s security capabilities and context,
including the transitional security key material, is transferred from the source
to the target eNB.

11.
An RRC security command procedure is used during initial establishment
of the AS security context and is initiated by the eNB towards the UE. The
SRB1 is established at this time; that is, prior to the establishment of the
Signalling Radio Bearer 2 (SRB2) and Data Radio Bearers (DRBs) for user
plane transfer.
An integrity-protected AS security mode command message is sent with the
EIA and key belonging to the security context to be activated while nonciphered. The EEA, EIA and eKSI selected for the new security context are
sent in the same message. The EEA and EIA selections are based on the
security capabilities of the UE. They indicate the supported EEA and EIA
and the locally configured, prioritized support lists in the eNB. The system
chooses the highest priority EEA and EIA supported by both the eNB and
the UE.
The UE security capabilities list is provided by the MME in the S1-AP
procedures during the initial UE context setup request or during the
handover resource preparation phase for the S1- initiated intra-LTE
handover. Such a list is also made available from the source eNB during
preparation for an X2-initiated handover. Depending on the system, the
EEA and EIA for the AS may be updated as part of the intra-LTE handover,
as eNBs can have varying levels of support for security algorithms.
Ciphering and deciphering at the AS in the downlink is started after the
security mode command has been sent by the eNB and received at the UE;
it is not necessary to wait for the security mode complete message. In the
uplink, however, the security mode complete message must be sent by the
UE and received at the eNB before ciphering and deciphering at the AS can
start. The AS security mode complete message is sent ciphered and
integrity- protected with that of the security context to be activated.
An explicit start time for user plane ciphering is not required, since DRBs
are always established after security mode procedures, and these DRBs
share a common EEA with the SRBs. Keys may be updated through
handovers and RRC connection re-establishments.

12.
For DRB Packet Data Units (PDUs), ciphering at the Packet Data Control
Plane (PDCP) is performed using post header compression, and
deciphering is performed using pre header decompression. Ciphering and
deciphering is performed on the data part of the SRB or DRB, and
Message Authentication Code (MAC-I) for the SRB. PDCP control PDUs
are not ciphered. Integrity protection and validation for the SRB is
performed on the PDCP PDU header before ciphering on the data parts.
7. Key Hierarchy in 4G and Key Derivations
The keys derived in the 4G AKA procedures are the following: K-NASenc
(encryption key for NAS traffic), KNASint (integrity key for NAS traffic),
KeNB (derived by MME and eNB), KUPenc (encryption key for the userplane data, derived by MME and eNB from KeNB), KRRCint and KRRCenc
(integrity check, respectively encryption key derived by MME and eNB from
KeNB, used for securing the Radio Resource Control traffic).

13.
The sections in this figure describe which entities are involved in a particular
key generation process; there are 6 keys derived from the EPS authentication
mechanism. This key generation feature introduced in 4G improves the speed
of the re-authentication procedures and also the refreshing process of the
keys. As the K-ASME may be used a master key in further service requests
authentication, the MME no longer has to download the authentication data
from the HSS and it can also avoid re-synchronization issues.
.
The entire authentication information that is stored in the UICC and its
corresponding associates from the network side is called “security context”; a
security context consists of the NAS and AS security contexts. The AS
security context has the cryptographic keys and chaining information for the
next hop access key derivation, but the entire AS context exist only when the
radio bearers established are cryptographically protected. The NAS context
consists of the K-ASME with the associated key set identifier, the UE
security capabilities and the uplink and downlink NAS count values, used for
each EPS security context. For a security context to be considered full, the
MME should have the K-NASenc and KNASint keys are derived as,
K------>CK, IK----> KASME------>KNASint
K------>CK, IK----> KASME------>KNASenc
LTE RRC Key Derivation at the eNodeB and UE
K------>CK, IK----> KASME------>KeNB----->KRRCint
K------>CK, IK----> KASME-----> KeNB------>KRRCenc
.
LTE User Plane Key Derivation at the eNodeB and UE
K------>CK, IK----> KASME-----> KeNB------> KUPenc

14.
8. Key Derivation During Handover
In Handover to achieve the adequate security forward security mechanism
is used. It means that, without knowledge of KASME, even with the
knowledge of KeNB that is shared by the UE and the current eNB,
computational complexity prevents guessing the future KeNBs which will
be used between the UE and eNBs to which the UE will connect in the
future. Thus, the encryption stays intact.
The Model for Key transmission is shown in below figure during
handover. When the initial AS security context is shared by UE and eNB,
MME and UE must generate the KeNB and Next-Hop (NH) parameter.
KeNB and NH are generated from KASME and there is a KeNB and NH
for each NH chaining counters (NCC). Those respective KeNB are
generated from the NH values for each NCC. In the Initial KeNB is
generated by from KASME and NAS uplink Count, resulting NCC=0 key
Chaining, with the initial values the derived NH values is for a key chain
of NCC=1 or less. KeNB is used as base key for the secure
communication between UE and eNB .For Handover directly between
eNBs, KeNB*, the new key is generated from the active KeNB* or from
the NH value.
There are two methods for key derivation Horizontal key derivation
And Vertical key derivation. The horizontal key derivation method
generated KeNB* from the existing KeNB while the vertical key
derivation method generate the KeNB* from NH. In Handovers, using
vertical key derivation KeNB* is generated from NH with addition input
like DL- EARFCN, and target eNB cell Physical cell Identity while in
horizontal key derivation the KeNB* is generated from the current KeNB
using the target PCI and its DL-EARFCN as additional parameters.

15.
As NH can be calculated only by the UE and MME this use of the NH
provides a method that achieves forward security in handover across the
multiple eNBs. In that case the n-hop (where N can be 1 or 2) forward
security at the time of vertical key derivation delivery means that the
future KeNB to be used when UE connects to another eNB after n or more
handovers cannot be guessed because of the computational complexity.
This function can limit the scope of harm even if a Key is leaked, because
feature Key will be generated without current KeNB in case of vertical
key delivery
9. Conclusion
This paper presented the basic 4G security architecture and requirements.
The paper focused on the access-level security issues that may arise at the
eNodeB, UE and MME level. As the connection to the network poses the
most serious issues when talking about User Domain security, this paper
analyzed the authentication process of the UE connecting to 4G networks.
Authors explained about what all EPS algorithms are supported and how
they can be identified. They also explained the NAS security, AS security
and derivation of security key during normal attaché procedure and during
the handovers.

16.
Authors
10. References



Nisha Malik
Student M.Tech





3 GPP 33.401 “3 GPP System Architecture Evolution, Security
Architecture”
3GPP standard 36.300 , “Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access
(E-UTRA) and Evolved Universal Terrestriall”
3GPP 33.310, “Network Domain Security; Authentication
Framework”
3GPP 33.220 ” Generic Authentication Architecture; Generic
Bootstrapping, Authentication”
3GPP 33.102, “3G Security Architecture”
LTE, The UMTS long Terms Evolution: From Theory to Practice
Security Analysis of LTE Access Network Cristina-Elena Vintilă,
Victor-Valeriu Patriciu, Ion Bica Computer Science Department
LTE Security Encryption and Integrity Protection in LTE from Event
Helix
Sukhvinder Malik
LTE Test Engineer
Rahul Atri
LTE Test Engineer
Preet Rekhi
LTE Test Engineer
.
Disclaimer:
Authors state that this whitepaper has been compiled meticulously and to the best of their
knowledge as of the date of publication. The information contained herein the white paper
is for information purposes only and is intended only to transfer knowledge about the
respective topic and not to earn any kind of profit.
Mandeep Arora
LTE Test Engineer
Every effort has been made to ensure the information in this paper is accurate. Authors
does not accept any responsibility or liability whatsoever for any error of fact, omission,
interpretation or opinion that may be present, however it may have occurred